Artificial thread and method of producing same



Jan. 16, 1940- A. FORMHALS 2,187,306

ARTIFICIAL THREAD AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SME Filed July 28, 1937 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Jan; 16, 1946 uurr so {STATE ARTIFICIAL THREAD AND METHOD or l rnonocmcsamn 1g Anton ,Formhals, Main z Germany,

assignor of forty-five ,one-hundredths to Richard Schreiber-Gastell, Mainz,

Germany 3 Application Jui 2s,\19a7,*seris1 No. 156,167 i This invention relatesto the production of an artificial thread, and more particularly it relates a to the production of a composite thread, comficial fibers on The electrical evaporated from trically shatter conductor wire posed of a base thread and artificial fibers surrounding the same, by electrically spinning artia moving base thread.

spinning of artificial fibers is Letterslatent No. 1,975,504 of Anton Formhals and comprises the electrical shattering ordispersion of, astream oi spinning solution into a plurality oi'artificial fibers by means of a high electrical potential. The fibers are attracted to a moving collector electrode having a high potential charge of opposite polarity T5 to the charge on the fibers, and during their travel to the collector electrode the solvent is the fibersso formed.

It: is the object and purpose of this invention to prepare a composite yarn or thread comosed of a base thread surrounded by a plurality of electrically spun, artificialfibers.

,It is another ob'ect'oi this invention toelecor disperse a stream of spinning solution to a plurality ofgfibers and simultaneously collect the same on a base thread.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter. 1

Theobjects and purposes of the invention will be more clearly apparent by reference to the following description accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic, side elevational view of one form of apparatus for carrying out the present invention; r l I Figure 2 is a diagrammatic, side ele ational view of a modified form of apparatus for carrying out the present invention. I l

Referring to Figure l of the drawing, reference numeral ll designates a, storage receptacle containing a quantity of spinning solution. A header conduit 13 is connected to the storage receptacle H, and is provided with a'plurality l5through which astreamof spinning solution is extruded. A base thread 89 which composed of cotton, wool, linen, hemp, silk, wire, or any other desired about two grooved pulleys 23 and25. may be rotated bymeans o! a motor 21 or in any other desired mechanical or manual method. A

2| is positioned below the base thread 19, and the nozzles 15 tioned above the said base may be artificial material is passed Pulley 25 thread. It is preferred that the nozzles be positioned somewhat, thethread I9 or conductor wire 21 l to one side of and not directly over the same to prevent dripthe nozzles l5yand the ccnductoriwire 21.

, means of the high conductor wire.- The fine fibers are adhere to the artificial fibers adhere takenin connection with the of nozzles sizing composition of are preferably posiping of spinning solution on the thread or wire when the electric current isshutoff; One pole of an electric device H for the production of high potentialelectricity isconnected tc'the header line l3, and the opposite pole oi' the device 11 is connected to the conductorwire 21. I In this way there will be a highfelectrical potential between As thespinning solutioriis extruded in streams from the nozzles i5, they are electrically, shattered by electrical potential -into fine, artificial fibers whichare attractedjtowardsthe oppositely charged conductor 2|. As the artificial fibers arernoving towards the wire 2| they will come in contact with the base thread 19 which is being moved between the nozzles andthe found to base thread and will be collected and carried away therewith. It is found that the thread and will be rolled onto'the sametohave close contact therewith by means of the grooved pulleys 25 and 23. The base thread as shown in Figure l is endless and maybe moved at a desirable speed about the pulleys '23 and 25 until it has been covered with the desired depth of After the base artificial fibers to the desired extent, it can be cut and tied to similar threads which have been covered with artificial fibers and the, whole passed through a twisting machine whereby to give a desired twist to the composite thread. It may also be desired in certain cases to twist together a number of the composite threads to make a 2, .1,

3 or greater ply strand or cord as may be desired.

Referring to Figure 2 of the drawing, theb'ase thread 33 is pulled froma spool 35 positioned on a stationary support 31. The spool is preferably provided with a smooth, round edged guide member 39,and from there the base passes through a guide 4! into contact with a moisteningi mechanism 43. The moistening quite well to the "base i an thread 33 mechanism 43 is adapted to apply to the threada any desired nature, or it may be used to moisten thethread. with acetone or other electrically conducting liquid so that the base thread 33 will become electrically cons serve as a collecting electrode. One

ductive and pole of a source of high potential electrioi'tyl| is connectedto a member 34, such as a trolley or the like, which will continually contact the moving base thread 33. The :trolley ispreferably positioned on an insulated support M so as to prevent leakage of the electrical current 'a' desirable composite product.

rolled in contact with the thread Inasmuch as the with a suitable thread in this case is provided ductor wire such as 2i, may be substituted therefor.

illustrated in Figure 1, I If desired, the base i The thread will betwisted and directly wound upon a'spool 51.

. of direct current.

The artificial fibers may be produced from any kind or type of liqind spinning solution which will .It may also be desirable to provide the electrical spinning apparatus With or. shaping screens, wires or the like as described I 2.'In a process for suitable field directing It has also been found that a wire base thread may be covered with artificial fibers as a means ofinsulating the same. In this case it is often found desirable to spray a preformed moving base thread thus to form a composite thread.

composed of a composite thread.

4. In a process for the production of a thread thread adjacent said conductor.

6. A composite thread-comprising a base thread and a surrounding covering of artificial fiber electrically spun onto saidjbase thread.

1 7. A composite thread comprising a base thread and a surrounding covering of artificial fibers electrically spun onto said base thread said fibers positioned substantially longitudinally of said 8. A composite thread comprisinga base thread and asurrounding covering of fibers electrically spun onto said base thread, said fibers twisted into close contact withsaid base thread.

9. In a process for coating a preformedlong narrow object of substantially uniformcrosssection such as a wirethr'ead or the like, the steps which comprise electrically shattering or dispersing a stream of, spinning solution into a composite, thread-dike member.

the same on said object while moving the latter along a predetermined path andythen collecting the thus formed composite, thread-like member.

10. In a process for coating a preformed long narrow object of substantially uniform, cross-secfibers between two electrodeapassing said ob ject between said electrodes along a predetermined path in: such amanner as to collect said fibers thereon and then collecting thethus formed ANTON FQ MHAIS;

plurality of fibers and simultaneously collecting? 

